| Focus to be on expediting 25 development projects | Both countries actively working on economic corridor | Chinese aid and support without political strings: Asst FM

BEIJING - President of China Xi Jingping will pay an important visit to Pakistan in the middle of this month to further strengthen existing strategic and socio-economic partnership.The visit will have special significance in terms of China's help to Pakistan to overcome its energy crisis, said Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jianchao while talking to a group of visiting journalists from Pakistan and Sri Lanka here Monday.At the first leg of his tour to South Asia, he will come to Pakistan after about two weeks. Other countries he is going to visit are India and Sri Lanka, he said, adding, "The government and the people of China attach great importance to Pakistan and wish the visit would help push forward their decades-old partnership to a new height. Special focus will be laid on expediting work on existing 25 projects mainly those of energy related. The visit will also have a special significance for deepening ties on people-to-people level”.Liu Jianchao categorically stated that no force whatsoever could hinder further progress of their bilateral relationship. China is firm in supporting Pakistan on all fronts. He said, "We wish to give a clear message to the government and the people of Pakistan that we fully stand by you in your struggle for a strong and prosperous Pakistan and will be actively participating in your economic development.”Pakistan-China relationship is a driving force to promote peace, stability and prosperity in the region, which he said meets common aspirations of the people of both countries. The two countries are actively working on construction of Economic Corridor project, which he said will open new avenues of cooperation in the socio-economic sector. To a question, the Assistant Foreign Minister said Pakistan is playing an important role in combating terrorism and extremism. Pakistan's army and the people paid great sacrifices to this end. “We highly appreciate Pakistan for its leading role in making the region free of terrorism.”The two countries will continue their cooperation to root out menace of terrorism. Pakistan's military and the civilian government have assured them their full support to fight out terrorist activities in Xinjiang region. “Terrorismis our common enemy and we stand to each other combating it with full force,” he further said.About the engagements of the Chinese President's visit, Liu Jianchao said these are being finalised through diplomatic channels. The exact date of the visit will also be announced soon. He expressed his confidence that the visit will be another milestone in their relationship, bringing the two countries still closer to each other. He said it is a matter of great pride that all political leaders and segments of society in Pakistan have a single and unanimous voice as far as relations with China are concerned. Similarly, Chinese people love their Pakistani brothers and sisters and wish their relationship should be exemplary one in all respects. Pakistan, he said, is an important country of the region, and has vital role in addressing its common problems and challenges.Replying to another question, Liu Jianchao said China’s financial and economic support to Pakistan does not carry any political conditions whatsoever. "We work with each other with complete sincerity and on the basis of win-win situation and we have been pushing forward mutually beneficial cooperative partnership over the years for the benefit of our people," he added.

This news was published in The Nation newspaper. Read complete newspaper of 02-Sep-2014 here.